They were all based on the same type of gas-operated action, similar to the one used in the 8 mm Hotchkiss Mle 1914 machine gun, which had proven extremely reliable during World War I and was still in service.

This minimal change was done so that existing weapons and the production line did not require any modification to fire the new cartridge, but was sufficient to fix the barrel wear issue.

French infantry commanders, who had expressed interest in acquiring light anti-aircraft guns, refused to accept the 13.2 mm.

They argued that the heavy bullets falling down could be dangerous to friendly troops, and preferred larger calibers for which self-destructing shells were available.

The French Air Force used the M1929, designated as mitrailleuse de 13.2 mm CA mle 1930, for close-range defense of its airfields and other strategic places.

The 13.2 mm Hotchkiss was used on the Belgian T15 and the French AMR 35 light tanks as well as on the White-Laffly AMD 80 armoured car and on fortifications.